A firefighter from Lothian and Borders fire and rescue service has died and another injured at a fire in a bar in Edinburgh. At least 20 people have been reported rescued from the tenement block above the bar in Dalry Road.

Kenny Ross FBU Scotland regional secretary said: "It is devastating news that we have lost a firefighter in the line of duty and that another is injured. Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues who have been stunned by these events. "Deaths in the line of duty touch everyone who works in the fire service. The death of this firefighter will be felt very deeply by everyone in the service in Scotland and across the UK."

Roddy Robertson, FBU Executive Council member for Scotland, said: "The firefighter who died and the one who was injured were a breathing apparatus team which entered the building.  The precise details of what happened will be a matter for the various investigations. "FBU officials are already looking at all health and safety issues relating to this incident. They will be working with the Health and Safety Executive and local brigade managers."

FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack said: "This terrible news is a reminder of just how deadly our profession can be. Our thoughts are with all our colleagues in fire services across the UK who will be touched by these events. "There are no borders to grief and this death will impact on fire crews across the UK. They will all give full support and assistance our colleagues in Lothian and Borders."

Andy Fulton, FBU Lothian and Borders brigade secretary said: "It's a very hard blow to lose one of our fellow firefighters. We all work closely with each other together and we're a close-knit fire service. "It is difficult to adequately describe the impact the death of a fellow firefighter has on everyone in the fire service. We are all stunned and deeply hurt by this loss although we all know we have to keep working to provide a fire and rescue service for the people of  Lothian and Borders."

A landlord has been sent to prison in the first custodial sentence to be given in London under the new fire safety regulations. Mr Mehmat Parlak was sentenced to four months imprisonment and his company, Watchacre Properties ltd., were fined £21,000 following conviction for serious breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. His prosecution followed a fatal fire at a flat on Ruskin Road, Tottenham on 16 September 2007. Councillor Brian Coleman AM FRSA, Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, which runs the London Fire Service said "This fire resulted in a man dying and highlights why landlords and businesses must take their responsibilities under the regulatory reform order seriously. The London Fire Brigade works hard to bring irresponsible companies and individuals to court, which can, as this case has shown, result in a custodial sentence."

Sentencing of the company and their Director Mr Parlak, of Wellington Road, Enfield took place at Wood Green Crown Court on 20 October after they pleaded guilty to eight breaches of fire safety.

The eight summonses were as follows:

Summons 1 - Article 9 - Failure to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to which relevant persons were exposed.
Summons 2 - Article 11 (1) - Failure to make and give effect to appropriate fire safety arrangements.
Summons 3 - Article 13 (1)(1) - Failure to provide appropriate fire fighting equipment.
Summons 4 - Article 13 (1)(a) - Failure to provide appropriate fire detection measures, namely adequate smoke alarms in the common parts of the premises.
Summons 5 - Article 14 (1) - Failure to ensure that routes to emergency exits from the premises and the exits were clear (in relation to the gas fired boiler).
Summons 6 - Article 14 (2)(a) - Failure to ensure that persons were able to evacuate the premises as quickly and safely as possible, in that the escape route was not properly protected (because the intumescent strip and cold smoke seal were missing from the top edge of the second floor habitable room and there were combustible materials stored in the exit route including a washing machine, television, clothing and furniture).
Summons 7 - Article 14 (2)(g) - Failure to ensure that there was adequate signage at the premises to indicate the emergency exit and route.
Summons 8 - Article 15 (1) - Failure to establish and give effect to appropriate procedures to be followed in the event of serious and imminent fire.